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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 000374 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT:  JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 02/25/10 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
 
Futenma issue: 
3) Okinawa Prefectural Assembly adopts statement calling for 
relocation of Futenma facility outside prefecture (Asahi) 
4) Hatoyama: "We must accept statement as an expression of the 
people's will" (Yomiuri) 
5) Fukushima: "May deadline secondary to true solution" (Asahi) 
6) SDP taking increasingly independent stance on Futenma relocation 
after Okinawa assembly passed statement opposing relocation within 
Okinawa  (Mainichi) 
 
Foreign relations: 
7) Iranian Parliament chairman: There is room for discussion on 
Japan's nuclear proposal (Nikkei) 
8) Yabunaka to visit Russia, discuss nuclear issues (Nikkei) 
 
Defense & security: 
9) Defense Ministry sends second GSDF contingent to Haiti (Nikkei) 
10) Gov't extends PKO mission in Nepal to end of July (Mainichi) 
11) U.S. service member accused of hit-and-run fatality pleads 
innocent (Yomiuri) 
 
Politics: 
12) Shimoji tapped to head PNP's Upper House election campaign 
(Asahi) 
13) JAL Chairman Inamori tapped as special adviser to cabinet 
(Mainichi) 
 
Economy: 
14) U.S. Trade Representative calls for level playing field between 
Japan Post companies and private sector firms (Nikkei) 
15) Japan-China talks on rare metals  (Nikkei) 
 
Media: 
16) Nikkei to launch electronic edition next month (Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Keidanren to stop offering advice to member firms on political 
donations 
 
Mainichi: 
Toyota chief announces at hearing plan to set up safety executive 
position for U.S. market 
 
Yomiuri: 
Toyota chief testifies about problem with electronic 
throttle-control system at hearing in U.S. 
 
Nikkei: 
GE joins hands with Fuji Electric to make power meters for 
next-generation smart-grid 
 
Sankei: 
Will Toyota chief's explanation that "too rapid growth was the 
 
TOKYO 00000374  002 OF 008 
 
 
cause" be accepted? 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Asada takes 2nd place in short program 
 
Akahata: 
Political leaders of Caribbean states agree to create new mechanism 
excluding U.S. 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) H1N1 flu: Use experience in next outbreak 
(2) Nursing-care problems: Do not turn elderly people into refugees 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Disparity in average value of one vote: Number of single-seat 
constituencies in Lower House should be rectified immediately 
(2) Letter to Hatoyama administration: Nagatsuma needs dreams and 
charisma to attract bureaucrats and opposition parties as well 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Diet battle: DPJ, LDP both remain unchanged 
(2) Global warming: Researchers' stance spreading distrust 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Envisage tax system that will support the future 
(2) SDP proposal will deepen anxieties about employment 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Toyota hearing: Cool-headed and impartial approach required 
(2) School graduation ceremony season approaching: It is common 
practice to pay respect to the national flag 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Disparity in average value of one vote: Correction needed to 
ensure equality 
(2) Total ban on smoking: Health must be protected by all 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Bikini Day on March 1: Pass on desire to ban atomic and hydrogen 
bombs 
 
3) Okinawa assembly adopts written request to move Futenma out of 
prefecture 
 
ASAHI (Page 18) (Full) 
Evening, February 24, 2010 
 
The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly unanimously adopted at its plenary 
session earlier today a written request urging the central 
government to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station 
outside the prefecture. It is the first case for the prefectural 
assembly to adopt a written request seeking the relocation of the 
base outside the prefecture since an agreement was reached in 1996 
to return Futenma to Japan. The request is addressed to Prime 
Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, Defense 
Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, and others. Assembly members of the 
Democratic Party of Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party, and the 
Social Democratic Party will visit Tokyo shortly to deliver the 
request to the central government. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000374  003 OF 008 
 
 
Describing Futenma as "the most dangerous base in the world," the 
request underlines the need to swiftly close and return the base to 
Japan. The request also urges the central government to forgo the 
idea of relocating the base within Okinawa and to move it out of the 
prefecture or out of the country, saying that the wishes of the 
people of Okinawa are clear from the results of the 1997 city 
referendum and opinion surveys in which a majority expressed 
opposition to the base's relocation to Nago in the prefecture. 
 
In a question-and-answer session after the request was adopted, Gov. 
Hirokazu Nakaima said: "I take the request seriously as a 
manifestation of the strong wishes of the prefectural assembly. I, 
too, have repeatedly indicated that moving the base outside Okinawa 
is desirable, and I want to see the central government consider the 
matter earnestly and actually move the base out of Okinawa." 
 
This is the second time for the prefectural assembly to unanimously 
oppose relocation within Okinawa following the first time in July 
¶1996. A resolution opposing moving Futenma to the Henoko district in 
Nago was adopted in July 2008, but at that time, the LDP and the New 
Komeito, which form the ruling camp in the prefectural assembly, 
opposed it. This time around, the two parties supported the 
resolution, judging that public opinion is growing for moving the 
base out of Okinawa. The Japanese Communist Party, too, supported 
the resolution in the end, overcoming its earlier reluctance. 
 
4) Hatoyama: Written request adopted by Okinawa assembly should be 
taken seriously 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 25, 2010 
 
Asked by the press corps at the Prime Minister's Official Residence 
(Kantei) last night about the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly's 
adopting for the first time a written request urging the central 
government to move the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station out of 
the prefecture, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said, "We should take 
it as a manifestation of the popular will." He also said: "There is 
no change in our plan to reach a conclusion by the end of May." 
 
Meanwhile, Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima (who is 
also consumer affairs minister) indicated at a press conference 
yesterday afternoon that the government should not adhere to the 
end-of-May deadline set by the Prime Minister. She said: "It is 
necessary to conduct work in a way that values the feelings of the 
people in Okinawa, and time is secondary in comparison with what 
really matters." 
 
5) SDP Fukushima: "Timing is of secondary importance" 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 25, 2010 
 
Touching on Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's vow to reach a 
conclusion on the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma 
Air Station by the end of May, Social Democratic Party President 
Mizuho Fukushima said in a press conference yesterday: "The prime 
minister's statement holds weight, but the timing should take a back 
seat to a real solution to the issue." She indicated that if no 
prospects are in sight for moving the Futenma facility out of the 
prefecture, the government should consider delaying the conclusion. 
In reference also to the Okinawa prefectural government's adoption 
 
TOKYO 00000374  004 OF 008 
 
 
of a statement calling for constructing an alternative facility 
outside the nation or the prefecture, Fukushima said: "It will be 
impossible to reach a real solution if the feelings and wishes of 
the Okinawan people are ignored. Careful work is necessary." 
 
6) SDP taking increasingly independent stance on Futenma relocation 
after Okinawa assembly passed statement opposing relocation within 
Okinawa 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 25, 2010 
 
Shinichiro Nishida 
 
With the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly adopting a unanimous statement 
opposing the relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station (in 
Ginowan City, Okinawa) on Feb. 24, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) 
is beginning to push for relocation out of Okinawa or out of Japan 
even more strongly. At a news conference on the same day, SDP leader 
State Minister for Consumer Affairs and Declining Birthrate Mizuho 
Fukushima emphasized that "the cabinet should take this very 
seriously." As Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is aiming at making a 
decision on this issue by the end of May, the SDP is poised to take 
an increasingly independent stance at the government and ruling 
parties' Okinawa base issues examination committee. 
 
The SDP hopes to use the prefectural legislature's statement to 
change the trend toward relocation within Okinawa. The People's New 
Party began to consider an inland area in Camp Schwab as the 
relocation site in early February, and there have been moves in the 
Ministry of Defense to go along with this proposal. Alarmed by this, 
the SDP made the examination committee postpone the scheduled 
submission of relocation site proposals on Feb. 17 by stressing the 
importance of the coalition government and the steering of Diet 
affairs within the administration while the deliberation on the 
FY2010 budget bill is going on. 
 
Along with efforts to persuade the central government, the SDP also 
took measures to influence the Okinawan assembly. Diet Affairs 
Committee Chairman Kantoku Teruya, who was elected from the second 
district of Okinawa, told Mainichi Shimbun on Feb. 24: "After the 
Camp Schwab inland proposal surfaced, we urged the prefectural 
assembly to pass the statement as soon as possible. This will have 
an impact on the Hatoyama administration at an opportune time," 
revealing the background behind the adoption of the statement. 
 
Behind the SDP's sense of urgency is a change in the balance of 
power among the floor groups in the House of Councillors. With 
defectors from the Liberal Democratic Party joining the Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ) one after the other, the DPJ-affiliated floor 
groups have come to control a majority in the Upper House even 
without the SDP's five seats. Even though Hatoyama is saying that he 
will make a decision on the Futenma issue that will "maintain the 
coalition government," SDP members are still concerned that the 
party may be "overridden" in the decision-making process. 
 
Administration officials have reacted coolly to the Okinawan 
legislature's statement, which the SDP is relying on (for its 
strategy). At a news conference on Feb. 24, Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Hirofumi Hirano merely said: "I can understand why such a document 
was adopted." Unsure of the intentions of the Prime Ministers 
Official Residence, Fukushima told a news conference on the same 
 
TOKYO 00000374  005 OF 008 
 
 
day: "While the end of May is the time limit, a solution to the 
problem is more important." She thus indicated her apprehension that 
support for relocation within Okinawa may increase inside the 
government on the pretext that time is running out. 
 
7) Iranian Parliament chairman: There is room for discussion on 
Japan's nuclear proposal 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 25, 2010 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada yesterday held talks with Iranian 
Parliament Chairman Larijani on the nuclear issue at a Tokyo hotel. 
After the meeting, Larijani disclosed to reporters that Japan 
presented a proposal at the end of last year to provide uranium to 
Iran that has been enriched and processed in Japan for nuclear power 
generation. He then said, "There is room for discussion on the 
proposal. We want to deepen our discussions on it," expressing a 
certain level of understanding for Japan's proposal. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said at a press conference: 
"If there is a role for Japan to play, we should go ahead with it. I 
think the proposal is part of Japan's international cooperation 
efforts." 
 
8) Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka leaves for Russia today 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 25, 2010 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday announced that 
Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka will visit 
Russia Feb. 25-26 to hold talks with Russian First Deputy Foreign 
Minister Andrey Denisov. Yabunaka and Denisov are expected to 
discuss the issue of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, as 
well as exchange views on the dispute over the Russia-held islands 
off Hokkaido. 
 
9) Second GSDF unit sent to Haiti 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 25, 2010 
 
The Defense Ministry yesterday dispatched about 40 Ground 
Self-Defense Force (GSDF) personnel as the second GSDF unit to join 
UN peacekeeping operations (PKO) in quake-devastated Haiti. The 
ministry plans to gradually send about 350 personnel by early March 
to replace the first engineering unit comprising about 200 GSDF 
troops. 
 
10) Government to extend Nepal PKO mission until end of July 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 25, 2010 
 
The government decided yesterday to extend the Ground Self-Defense 
Force's mission at the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) for 
four months through July 31. The decision follows the UN Security 
Council's decision in January to extend the UNMIN. The government 
plans to adopt an execution plan at a cabinet meeting on March 2. 
Since March 2007, six unarmed GSDF personnel dispatched in 
accordance with the UN Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) Cooperation Law 
 
TOKYO 00000374  006 OF 008 
 
 
have been observing arms and soldiers for the purpose of disarming 
insurgents of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist. This is the fifth 
time to extend the GSDF mission in Nepal. 
 
11) U.S. soldier pleads not guilty in fatal hit-and-run case in 
Okinawa 
 
YOMIURI (Page 38) (Full) 
February 25, 2010 
 
The first hearing on the case of violation of the Road Traffic Law 
(hit-and-run) in which Clyde Gunn, 27, a U.S. Army staff sergeant 
stationed at the Torii Station, was charged with fatally hitting 
Masakazu Hokama, 66, unemployed, of Yomitan Village, Okinawa with 
his car last November was held at the Naha District Court (presided 
by Justice Nobuhiro Takamori) on Feb. 24. During the arraignment, 
Gunn admitted that he hit Hokama with his car, but pleaded not 
guilty because "the site of the accident was pitch-dark, so 
pedestrians have the obligation to avoid accidents. I did not know I 
hit a person, so there was no duty to aid the injured." 
 
According to the indictment, on the early morning of Nov. 7, Gunn 
hit Hokama, who was walking on a road in Sobe, Yomitan Village, with 
his car, causing Hokama's death from a cervical vertebral fracture. 
He apparently did not try to aid the victim and fled from the scene 
of the accident. 
 
Gunn stated: "I felt an impact, so I stopped the car, backed up, and 
returned to the site, but did not find anyone who needed help." Gunn 
admitted that based on the conditions at the scene of the accident, 
he might have hit Hokama. However, he also cited the fact that 
Hokama was wearing dark-colored clothes and walking on a dark road 
before dawn. He said: "Pedestrians should wear luminescent clothes 
to avoid accidents," also denying the charge of negligent driving. 
 
12) PNP Kamei appoint Shimoji to head election strategy office 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 25, 2010 
 
In a press conference yesterday, People's New Party (PNP) President 
Shizuka Kamei announced the party's decision to appoint Policy 
Research Council Chairman Mikio Shimoji as the head of an election 
strategy office to be set up in preparation for the upcoming House 
of Councillors election. Upper House member Takashi Morita will take 
over Shimoji's duties as Policy Research Council Chairman. Shimoji 
will continue to serve as chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee. 
 
Shimoji compiled a PNP report on the relocation of U.S. Marine 
Corps' Futenma Air Station, calling for constructing a land-based 
Futenma replacement facility on Camp Schwab. With the government's 
postal reform bill also likely to be finalized soon, the party has 
concluded work on a number of its major policy challenges. In the 
summer Upper House election, the PNP will field its incumbent Upper 
House members in the Hiroshima and Fukuoka constituencies, as well 
as in the proportional representation segment. Kamei said in the 
press conference: "It has become necessary for another person to 
engage in charting election strategy (along with Secretary General 
Shozaburo Jimi)." 
 
13) JAL Chairman Inamori tapped as special cabinet adviser 
 
 
TOKYO 00000374  007 OF 008 
 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 25, 2010 
 
The government decided yesterday to appoint Kyocera Corp. Honorary 
Chairman Kazuo Inamori, who also serves as Japan Airlines Corp. 
chairman, as a special adviser to the cabinet. Prime Minister Yukio 
Hatoyama will issue an official announcement of appointment to 
Inamori today. 
 
Inamori has close relations with senior members of the Democratic 
Party of Japan. He became a private-sector member of the Government 
Revitalization Unit, but after he assumed the chairmanship of JAL, 
he informed Hatoyama of his intention to step down as a panel 
member. At that time, the prime minister reportedly asked him to 
become a special cabinet adviser, judging that the chairman of 
Kyocera and JAL would not find it difficult to serve concurrently as 
an adviser. 
 
14) USTR : "Put Japan Post on level playing field with 
private-sector rivals" 
 
NIKKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 25, 2010 
 
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler on Feb. 25 
exchanged ideas on Japan's review of postal services with Senior 
Vice Minister of Cabinet Office Kouhei Ohtsuka in Tokyo. During the 
meeting, she called on the Japanese government to establish a level 
playing field for private companies and Japan Post. She also noted 
that the U.S. government is concerned about Japan Post being given 
preferential treatment in parcel services. The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo 
released the statement. In reviewing postal services the government 
intends to allow (Japan Post) to market third sector products such 
as cancer insurance. Increasingly alarmed by the move, European and 
U.S. industrial organizations are calling on the Japanese government 
to be cautious about Japan Post's entry into new markets. 
 
15) Japan-China talks on rare metals 
 
NIKKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 25, 2010 
 
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and China's Ministry of 
Commerce on Feb. 24 held regular vice minister-level talks In Tokyo. 
At the meeting the Japanese side asked China to stop controlling 
exports of mineral resources, including rare metals. A Chinese 
participant responded: "It is a justifiable system for the control 
of resources," the talks ending without agreement. Japan also 
conveyed its concern about China's system of making manufacturers 
disclose technological information about their IT products (the 
China Compulsory Certification system). 
 
16) Nikkei to offer online subscription version from March 23 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
February 25, 2010 
 
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun will start offering an online version on 
March 23. It will provide reliable and accurate information with 
convenient functions using state-of-the-art technology. Nikkei will 
aim to make the online version a new media possessing both the 
quality of a newspaper and digital characteristics. Through the 
 
TOKYO 00000374  008 OF 008 
 
 
online version Nikkei will fulfill the role of a media organization 
in the Internet age. 
 
President Tsuneo Kita, during a press conference on Feb. 24, 
explained the aim of publishing the online subscription version, 
noting, "We will offer quality journalism to those who are familiar 
with digital equipment such as PC's and cell phones." 
 
The online version will provide the latest news with ample data and 
images on a round-the-clock basis. In addition to articles from the 
print version of the newspaper, the online edition will offer 
articles from various companies in the Nikkei group and overseas 
media organizations. The online edition will include information on 
the business scene, information useful for investment, and 
information on the arts, sports, health and other life-style issues. 
 
 
ROOS